Drop-handle for coffins.



No. 809,467. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

e. A. scnmm. DROP HANDLE FOR GOFFINS,

rue-Anon FILED JAN, 27, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed January 27, 1905. Serial No. 242,876.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, GEORGE A. Sonnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drop-Handles; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference characters marked'thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in drop-handles, more particularly such which are used in connection with caskets and coffins. Since their use in such connection is only a temporary one, the time of actual service being comparatively short, it has been the aim to construct such handles as cheaply as possible.

The general object of this invention is to construct such a handle in a simple and inexpensive method and with a limited use of metal without impairing, however, the necessary strength and stability required for the purpose, while maintaining at the same time the desirable substantial appearance.

The invention consists, therefore, of a handle constructed so as to satisfy these conditions, and such construction, together with its various parts, is hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows such a handle of usual style as it appears when in its normal position on the side of a coffin. Fig. 2 shows parts of a similar view with certain parts of the handle removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of certain parts and taken on a line indicated at 3 3 in Fig. 1, the position of the handle being, however, an operative onethat is, one in which it appears when used for carrying the particular object to which it is attached. Fig. 4 shows a side view of one of the structural parts used in the construction. Fig. 5 is a front view of another part, it being more particularly the bracket whereby the swinging parts of the handle are attached to the main obj ect i. e. the coflin. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows the blank out of which the part shown in Fig. 5 is made. Fig. 8 shows the blank out of which a certain other part is formed.

In the drawings, A indicates the handle proper, supported near each of its ends-by swinging links B B,pivotally attached to a part of the particular object on which the pivotal connection to the side of a coflin. As

shown in Fig. 1, the appearance of these links would indicate a massive and substantial construction, which in view of the limited use of such handles is, however, entirely unnecessary. 'AS a matter of fact the larger part of these links consists merely of a hollow shell D substantially semicylindrical and of thin sheet metal which permits of it being formed to shape by stamping or pressin and which shells serve simply for ornamenta purposes, giving also by reason of their bulky appearance the desired substantial aspect of massiveness to the handle. Fig. 8 shows'approximately the outline of a blank out of Which such a shell may be formed. These shells also cover and hide the structural parts, the pivotal connection of the links, and the attachment to the cofiin. The principal structural parts of these links B B are the skeleton links proper, as shown at E E, each provided with a larger opening 6 at one end which receives the handle A, while a smaller opening 6 serves to receive the pivot-pins F, whereby the links with the handle are pivotally attached to lugs G G, which project laterally from the coffin. These links E E are sufficiently thin to also permit the use of sheet metal and making by stamping. The material is, however, of sufficient strength to stand the Weight and strain. Shells D D may be attached to these skeleton links in any suitable way, so as to cover them as contemplated. As shown, I provide openings (2 d (see Fig. 8) so located as to meet and fit over small projections cl (1 at opposite ends on the edge of the links after these shells are bent around and over the edge of these links and as best shown in Fig. 3. After the shells are thus placed in position on the skeleton links these projections are spread by hammerblows in the openings which they occupy in the shell, thus producing a rivet connection. Solder might also be used in this connection, but is preferably avoided, since the application of heat tends to discolor and tarnish the metal, especially in case this latter is plated. Handle A is prevented from working and turning independently in these links by and lugs G G, which constitute the bracket screws (1 a set so in the handle as to occupy lateral depressions or dents in these links. A staple might also be used for this purpose, the same to be driven so as to straddle a link.

As an additional security for the pivotal connection of links E E, I provide a pin H in each of the connected ends of these links, which pins project from both sides and reach into curved slots h, one in each of the lugs G, on each side of these ends of the links and in which slots these pins work, as best shown in Fig. 3. If either one of these pins H or F should break, the other one would still hold the particular handle to the coflin and prevent complete separation. Lu s G G, in combination with their base g, from which they project, form a bracket which is secured to the side of the coflin in a suitable manner, preferably by screws J J, which pass through oles j j in said brackets. These screws may also serve to, hold escutcheon-plates O C to the cofl'm, for which purpose these latter have also holes j j, which register with holes j in the base below, so that screws J J may simultaneously occupy both holes, and thus hold these two superposed members in place. Bases g of the brackets have flanges g g, which rest directly against the side of the coffin, the depth of which flanges may be arranged to'suit the strength of the design desired, meaning thereby the degree of projection from the side of the coflin. Thus, for instance, if more projection is desired such can be done by increasing the depth of these flanges g g without increasing the projection of lugs G G, which would correspondingly weaken them. These flanges g 9, base g,

members, are also formed out of sheet metal and in one piece, which is bent to shape. Fig. 7 shows a suitable blank for this member. The upper edge of this latter between lugs G G forms a shoulder K, against which a nose 7c, formed on the connected end of each link E E, rests when the handle is in its raised position during use, as shownin Fig. 3. Substantial points of support are thereby formed at that time by this shoulder K, also by pin F and by pin H, which bears against the upper end of slot it. These slots are contained in lugs G, and by means of base g, from which they project, all strains are directly transferred against the side of the coflin to which this base connects. The entire connection of this bracket, as well as the ends of the pins, are hidden by the upper end of the hollow shells D D, which work in and out through an opening 0 in the face of escutcheon-plates C C, which face around such opening is raised sufficiently to meet and suit the projection of lugs G G, thus completely inclosing and also hiding them from the side. It will be noted that these escutcheon-plates serve for ornamental purposes only and are in no Wise used as structural parts or for performing any 1 functions whatsoever which would subject them to any strain, and for which reason they might also be made of light sheet metal. The features of my invention are of course also applicable to shorter handles requiring only one link. The arrangement of slots h and pins H might also be reversed as to the members in which they are provided. Pin H might also be used to secure the upper end of shells D to'the upper end of the skeleton links E instead of using the projection d thereat. Brackets G G g and escutcheonplates C 0 might be connected to each other previous to their attachment to the coffin. This connection might be by perforated flanged rivets, (in shape of eyelets,) through which the attaching-screws J J would pass.

It will be noted that no cast metal is used in connection with this construction, and all parts are independently made and independently connected without casting. This refers particularly to the attaching-bracket, which is an independent sheet-metal structure directly connected to the side of the coffin, against which it directly bears and transfers any strain without the intervention of any soft-metal parts which are liable to collapse.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a drop-handle, the combination of the handle proper, skeleton links by which the same is supported, projections near each end of these links, sheet-metal ornamental shells having perforations adapted to receive the projections on the links after being bent over and around them to cover the same and attaching-brackets to which these links are pivotally connected.

2. An independent attaching-bracket for a drop-handle, made of sheet metal and con-. sisting oflu'gs to receive the pivotal connection of the handle, a base from which these lugs project in one direction and flanges projecting from said base in an opposite direction, they being intended and adapted to rest with their edges directly against the object to which the drop-handle is to be secured.

3. A connecting-link for a drop-handle, comprising a skeleton link having an opening at one end to receive the handle and another opening at its other end to receive a pivotpin a sheet=metal shell of limited and even thickness to cover this link and means to attach one to the other.

4. In a drop-handle, the combination of the handle proper, links one at each end thereof which receive each at one of their ends the handle and are provided at their other ends with an opening adapted to receive a pivot-pin, an attaching-bracket for each link adapted to be connected to the side of the coffin and provided with two projecting lugs spaced to receive between them the perforated end of a link and also provided with a corresponding opening to receive a by a twofold and positive connection is proplvot-pin and with curved slots concentric with this opening, and pins at each connected end' of the links, one passing through the openings in the lugs and in the link between them and the other seated in the link and projecting from each side thereof and extending into the slots of the adjacent lugs, where- VldGd for each link to its attaching-bracket. IO In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two witnesses. GEORGE A. SOHEHR. Witnesses:

O. SPENGEL, CHARLES HOFF. 

